Seat cushion support for sofa-bed



Nov. 22, 1960 B. CASTRO 2,960,698

SEAT CUSHION SUPPORT FOR SOFA-BED Filed Aug. 15, 1957 /9 24 m 0 o o 0 Z 0 \l 1 v 4/ L 1 20 o o In "I o op 42 4 :1 II 0 I 36 0o \36 2 o o o O o o 34 o o O T o llh H II |||H|| u. I 0 o "32 w o INVENTOR I BEAN/QED 6417-20 45 ATTO N United States Patent SEAT CUSHION SUPPORT FOR "SOFA-BED Bernard Castro, 2300 N. Atlantic Blvd., Fort Laudcrdale, Fla.

Filed Aug. 15, 1957, Ser. No. 678,356

1 Claim. (Cl. -13) This invention relates to the improved construction of a convertible sofa-bed.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and effective structure in a convertible sofa-bed for supporting and for holding a removable seat cushion in place when the articulated frame of the unit is folded to form a sofa.

Another object is to provide a cushion support which can easily be attached to a convertible sofa-bed mechanism of the same general kind as disclosed in the inventors US. Patent No. 2,752,613 without interfering with the operation of the mechanism.

These and other objects will in part be understood from and in part pointed out in the description given hereinafter.

One of the most popular kinds of convertible sofabeds has a stationary frame on which is pivotally suspended a folding mechanism having four articulated sections. The articulated sections of the mechanism, when folded, lie within the frame with an inner section extending downwardly in a generally vertical position, an intermediate section extending horizontally from the lower end of the inner section, a short connecting section extending upward from the outer end of the intermediate section, and an end section folded back and over the intermediate section and extending horizontally from the end of the connecting section. In this folded position of the bed mechanism, the top of the end bed section provides a platform on which a removable seat cushion can be placed. Extending upward from the rear face of the seat cushion is a back cushion permanently afiixed to the frame of the unit.

A small gap is provided between the lower end of this back cushion and the rear end of the end bed section to permit the articulated bed sections to be swung up and outward from a folded sofa position to an extended bed position without rubbing against the stationary back cushion. This gap is relatively small, of the order of several inches high, but it leaves an opening into which the rear end of the movable seat cushion could slip or be pushed in certain instances. The present invention is designed to eliminate this difficulty without, however, interferng with the folding or unfolding of the bed sections and without requiring expensive additions or modifications I to it.

In accordance with the present invention a long thin rigid tube is attached in a unique and advantageous way to the end section of a bed mechanism of the general kind described above. This tube is placed so that it effectively prevents the movable seat cushion from slipping back underneath the fixed back cushion without however detracting from the comfort or appearance of the sofa-bed.

A better understanding of the invention together with a fuller appreciation of its many advantages will best be gained from a study of the following description given in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folded sofa-bed unit 2,960,698 Patented Nov. 22, 1960 with a portion of its seat cushion broken .away to reveal a seat support provided in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the unit seen in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of onespecific seat support and its manner of attachment to the bed mechanism; and

Figure 4 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of seat support of modified construction in accordance with theinvention.

' The sofa-bed 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises a stationary frame 12 within which is folded an articulated bed' mechanism generally indicated at 14. Removably positioned on top of this mechanism 14' is a seat cushion 16 and fixed to frame 12 extending upwardly behind the rear edge of the seat cushion 16 is a back cushion 18. Lying just behind the bottom rear edge 19 of the seat cushion 16 is a fiat headboard 20 which lies generally horizontal when the bed mechanism is folded. Positioned in front of the headboard is a seat support 22 provided in accordance with the invention for preventing the rear edge of seat cushion 16 from slipping into the small gap 24 between the lower end of back cushion 18 and the headboard 20. This gap 24, as explained previously, allows the articulated sections of the bed mechanism including headboard 20 to be unfolded to an extended position to form a bed.

As shown in Figure 2, the folded bed mechanism 14 is pivotally suspended within frame 12 and comprises a vertically disposed inner section 30, a horizontal intermediate section 32 pivoted to the lower end of section 30, a vertical connecting section 34 pivoted to the forward end of section 32 and extending upwardly therefrom, and a horizontal rearwardly extending end section 36 pivoted to the upper end of section 34. These four sections 30, 32, 34 and 36, when unfolded, are adapted to extend horizontally outward from the frame on a level approximately the same as that occupied by end section 36 when folded.

Stretched between the side rails of the bed sections 30, 32, 34 and 36 is a mattress supporting spring 38. Overlying the portion of this spring 38 which is supported on end section 36 is a cushion protecting sheet 40 on which seat cushion 16 rests and which prevents the cushion from being torn by spring 38. This sheet is elastically fastened along its front edge 41 to end section 36 in the way shown in the above mentioned patent, and is fixed along its rear edge 42 to the end of the end section in any convenient way, as by riveting.

The seat support 22 is in the form of a fiber or metal tube which lies beneath sheet 40 just in front of headboard 20. This tube 22 serves effectively to close gap 24 and prevent the seat cushion from entering it. As seen in Figure 3, tube 22 is sewn within a fold 43 of material whose end 44 is stitched along a transverse line to sheet 40. Thus, the tube 22 is held properly positioned relative to the seat cushion 16 when sections 30, 32, 34 and 36 are folded as illustrated in Figure 2, but is positioned at the underside of section 36 and spring 38 when the sections are unfolded to form a bed thereby not interfering with the stretching of the spring or the sleeping comfort of the bed.

Another form of seat support is shown in Figure 4 and is in the form of a triangular or ramp shaped hollow member 46. This as with tube 22 can be fastened to sheet 40.

The drawings and above description illustrate and describe preferred embodiments of the invention but are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. Various changes may occur to those skilled in the art and these may be made without departing from,

the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the following claim.

I claim:

A sofa bed comprising a stationary frame, a back cushion fixed thereto and having a fixed bottom edge, first, second, third and fourth bed sections connected together in series from front to rear and suspended Within said frame, said sections being adapted to-fold in said frame with said first section generally horizontal and with said third section beneath and generally parallel to said first section and said second and fourth sections generally vertical, the end of said first section being positioned just below the fixed bottom edge of said back cushion and leaving a small clearance gap, a headboard attached at right angles to said fourth section and adapted 15 rigid backstop positioned within said gap when said sections are folded, said backstop acting effectively to prevent the rear of said seat cushion from entering said gap, said backstop comprising a lightweight tube-like member attached to and positioned beneath said cover to partially fill the lower part of said gap, whereby said backstop lies closely against said first section when said sections are folded and hangs freely beneath it and said bedspring when said sections are unfolded.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,125 Woller Feb. 28, 1956 520,635 Conant May 29, 1894 2,740,132 Del Campo Apr. 3, 1956 2,752,613 Castro et al. July 3, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 303,282 Great Britain Jan. 3, 1929 346,911 Great Britain Apr. 23, 1931 484,803 Canada July 15, 1952 

